Lake City Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lake City, Florida 32056
Saturday, January 13, 1996 13:30 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that he had selected an empty fuel tank and the engine lost power just after lift off. He lowered the landing gear and attempted a landing on the remaining runway. During the landing, the left main landing gear collapsed. The left stabilizer spar and the aft fuselage bulkhead were also damaged during the landing.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Failure of the pilot to select a fuel tank with adequate fuel for takeoff, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation during the initial climb, and improper flare by the pilot during the subsequent forced land.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/13/1996
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1330
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City LAKE CITY
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32056
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport LAKE CITY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 31J
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 201
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1250 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 350
Weather Observation Facility ID GNV
Elevation of weather observation facility 152
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 45
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 12
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 10
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 36
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 13 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1700
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 9:47AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7498P
NTSB Number MIA96LA063
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-24-250
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-24-250
Aircraft Serial Number 24-2693
Certified Max Gross Weight 2900
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 21 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 41
Airframe Hours 2339
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MARCEL C. FROMOND
Aircraft Owner Street Address 606 HARDEMAN AVE.
Aircraft Owner City FORT VALLEY
Aircraft Owner State GA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 31030
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 31J
Departure City
Departure State FL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1330
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code PVT
Destination City CANNON CREEK
Destination State FL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 28
Runway Length 8002
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --